Copy and paste this worksheet as a separate page linked to the Homepage of your portfolio. DO NOT type your answers on THIS document because it needs to be used by other students. The title of your page which replies to these questions is linked to your portfolio and should begin with the first initials of your first and last name. (In my case, the link to this worksheet from my portfolio page might read frsplitsecond.)
You may earn a maximum of 3 points toward your final grade by doing the above and answering the questions and submitting them on time (no later than Friday, September 15). Any worksheets submitted after the deadline will get a 0. You will be rewarded a maximum of 3 points if I judge your work to be above average. You will receive 2 points if your work is average, that is it may have a few minor mistakes in some of the answers but demonstrates correct grammar and indicates that some, but not all, of the answers, are acceptable and well expressed. You will earn only 1 point if you simply answered the questions and/or if you use poor grammar and if there are signs that you have not read the material on which your answers are based.
1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of Split Second. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?”
The play begins on the streets of Manhattan on the 4th of July. Val, a black policeman who is off-duty, sees Willis, a white thug, attempting to steal a car. Val draws his gun and forces Willis to surrender. As he is being arrested, Willis continues to throw hateful, disgusting racial slurs at Val. Willis calls out Val and suggests he won't take action. Val gets defensive and shoots Willis.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play? Be careful when citing the intrustion, it may not be where you initially think it is.
I believe the intrusion begins the moment that Val shoots Willis. At this moment, not only has a life been taken, but the way that Val lives his life will forever be changed because of his action. Nothing is ever the same after Val decides to pull the trigger.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
This is the day that Val shoots Willis.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will Val confess to his action? How will his family react to his decision?
5. Use Val to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is, dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what Val wants (NOTE: In Split Second the wants of Val are in flux and he is being swayed by his father, his wife, his friend, and his colleague at work. His wants seem to change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that the character encounters.
Val's first conflict is seen against Willis. Willis throws racial slurs at Val, and Val eventually snaps and shoots Willis. The next conflict is an inner conflict in Val. Throughout the play, Val struggles with whether he should tell the truth about what happened that night or lie to protect himself.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Split Second.
One obvious theatrical moment occurs when Val shoots Willis. This moment will not only end a life, but also change Val's life forever. Another theatrical moment is seen in the end of the play when the audience learns that Val will decide to lie, which answers the dramatic question.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Split Second. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
One image is seen in the title of the play, "Split Second." In one instant, Val decides to act on his anger and shoot Willis. Throughout the play, the audience can see how that one short instant in Val's life will change him forever. Another image is seen in the date of the play: Independence Day. This day is ironic because on a day that is supposed to represent freedom, Val's choice will make him a prisoner, either an actual prisoner in jail or a prisoner of his guilt.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Split Second.
Themes of racism and conscience are explored in this play. In the beginning, the audience can see how difficult life is for those who face racism in their every day lives, and how the actions taken against racism can have negative affects as well. Conscience is also explored because throughout the play, Val is trying to determine whether his conscience or his freedom is more valuable to him.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Split Second?
Family is very important to Val. He asks both his wife and father for advice on the action he should take, which means he values his family's opinions. When his wife is trying to convince him to lie, she mentions that he would be betraying her and their children if he were to tell the truth and go to prison. Val did not take that point lightly, and that point was a strong influence that kept Val from telling the truth.
Copy and paste this worksheet as a separate page linked to the Homepage of your portfolio. DO NOT type your answers on THIS document because it needs to be used by other students. The title of your page which replies to these questions is linked to your portfolio and should begin with the first initials of your first and last name. (In my case, the link to this worksheet from my portfolio page might read frsplitsecond.)
You may earn a maximum of 3 points toward your final grade by doing the above and answering the questions and submitting them on time (no later than Friday, September 15). Any worksheets submitted after the deadline will get a 0.
You will be rewarded a maximum of 3 points if I judge your work to be above average. You will receive 2 points if your work is average, that is it may have a few minor mistakes in some of the answers but demonstrates correct grammar and indicates that some, but not all, of the answers, are acceptable and well expressed. You will earn only 1 point if you simply answered the questions and/or if you use poor grammar and if there are signs that you have not read the material on which your answers are based.
1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of Split Second. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?”
The play begins on the streets of Manhattan on the 4th of July. Val, a black policeman who is off-duty, sees Willis, a white thug, attempting to steal a car. Val draws his gun and forces Willis to surrender. As he is being arrested, Willis continues to throw hateful, disgusting racial slurs at Val. Willis calls out Val and suggests he won't take action. Val gets defensive and shoots Willis.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play? Be careful when citing the intrustion, it may not be where you initially think it is.
I believe the intrusion begins the moment that Val shoots Willis. At this moment, not only has a life been taken, but the way that Val lives his life will forever be changed because of his action. Nothing is ever the same after Val decides to pull the trigger.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
This is the day that Val shoots Willis.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will Val confess to his action? How will his family react to his decision?
5. Use Val to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is, dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what Val wants (NOTE: In Split Second the wants of Val are in flux and he is being swayed by his father, his wife, his friend, and his colleague at work. His wants seem to change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that the character encounters.
Val's first conflict is seen against Willis. Willis throws racial slurs at Val, and Val eventually snaps and shoots Willis. The next conflict is an inner conflict in Val. Throughout the play, Val struggles with whether he should tell the truth about what happened that night or lie to protect himself.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Split Second.
One obvious theatrical moment occurs when Val shoots Willis. This moment will not only end a life, but also change Val's life forever. Another theatrical moment is seen in the end of the play when the audience learns that Val will decide to lie, which answers the dramatic question.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Split Second. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
One image is seen in the title of the play, "Split Second." In one instant, Val decides to act on his anger and shoot Willis. Throughout the play, the audience can see how that one short instant in Val's life will change him forever. Another image is seen in the date of the play: Independence Day. This day is ironic because on a day that is supposed to represent freedom, Val's choice will make him a prisoner, either an actual prisoner in jail or a prisoner of his guilt.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Split Second.
Themes of racism and conscience are explored in this play. In the beginning, the audience can see how difficult life is for those who face racism in their every day lives, and how the actions taken against racism can have negative affects as well. Conscience is also explored because throughout the play, Val is trying to determine whether his conscience or his freedom is more valuable to him.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Split Second?
Family is very important to Val. He asks both his wife and father for advice on the action he should take, which means he values his family's opinions. When his wife is trying to convince him to lie, she mentions that he would be betraying her and their children if he were to tell the truth and go to prison. Val did not take that point lightly, and that point was a strong influence that kept Val from telling the truth.